Air-brush.



L. WALKUP.

AIR BRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, I916.

1,191,751,. Patented July 18, 1916.

LIBERTY WALKUP, F ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

AIR-BRUSH.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, LIBERTY WALKU'P, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State ofIllinois, haveinvented certain new Specification of Letters Patent.

and useful Improvements in Air-Brushes,

of which the .following is aspecification.

Thls invention relates in general to atomizers ct that class known as air brushes byv which liquid color or other pigment is atom-I ized through the agency of air'under pressure, and has more particular reference to the type of air brush described in my Patent No. 817,819. I I

One of the primary objects of my present invention is to improve structurally and in operation'the type of air brush described in my said patent and produce an airbrush that will be thoroughly eflicient and easy to op rate and not be liable to leakage of the llquid color or caking of the same in the atomizing nozzle.

Patented July 18, 1916.

' Application filed February 15, 1916. Serial No. 78,353.

leakage ofliquid color from the valve case.

will be apparent as-the invention becomes better understood by reference to the. following specification when considered in con- Other objects and attendant advantages nection with the accompanying drawing, in

which- 4 Figure 1 is brush embodying my improvements, showing the valve control in closed or inoperative position; Fig. 2 is a fragmenta view of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 1 with the same in open or operating position; Fig.

- 3 is a plan View of the air brush; Fig. 4: is

a sideelevation of an air a verticalsectional view through the same. on the line H of Fig. 3; and Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken on the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 1.

' My improvements, embodied mainly in the'mechanism for controlling the air and liqu-idcolor supply to the atomizing nozzle,

Another object of-niy invention lies in 1 the manner of controlling the supply of air and liquid color or other pigment to the atomizing nozzle, and consists inzthe'provision of a novel valve mechanism operated by a single control member so that upon actuation of the same to ut theair brush into operation air, and su sequently liquid:

color, will be supplied to the said nozzle and to stop the operation said supply ,will be shut off in inverse order, that is, the liquid color prior to the air. Thus by admitting air to the nozzle prior to admitting liquid color thereto, the initial'discharge of color will be thoroughly atomizedv and. there Will be no possibility of discharging a largespeck or globule of color when the brush is put in v.

the valve case 7, a supplemental air tube operation. And by shutting off the color supply prior to shutting oil the air the atom vent caking and clogging izing nozzle will be cleaned ,so as to. presame.

A furtherfobject is to provide an imf proved valve structure for controlling the Y of color in the passage of liquid color ,to theatomizi'ng no'z.-.v

zle, in which the valve, preferably of cyl ndrical form, is provided with a small reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of,

color so that upon putting the air brush into and out of use at comparatively short in tervals this reservoir-furnishes an iinmedi 1 4 body 13 with that incased by the, cap 16.

Liquid color supplied through the tube ate supply of color.

My invention further contemplates the provision of improved means for preventing I have illustrated as contained in and mounted upon a body or valve case 7. in turn fixedly secured to the top of athreaded cap 8 adapted to be screwed. onto the neck of a suitable bottle'or receptacle 9 for containing liquid coloror other pi ent. It

should be understood, however, that the atomizing device and means for controlhng the supply of air and liquid thereto may be suitably connected with any liquid color.

container, the particular form-of containers hereinshown being illustration. V

The atomizing nozzle designated in general by-r'eference character. 11 of substantially the same construction as that descrlbed in my. prior patent comprises, generally.

stated, .an airtube 12 threadingly, engaged merely for-[purpose of or tubular vbody 13 secured to and forming a continuation of the'air' tube 12, a l quid 1 color tube: .14 disposed. within the tube 12.

and forming a separate conduit between the valve case 17 and the tubular body 13, a

liquid color nozzle 15 connected to the outer end of thebody 13, and a cap 16 of 'a gen I eral conical shape threadingly mounted on plete the atomizing nozzle. 1 Ports 1? 0011- nect .the' air conduitformed by the tubular 14: to the needle nozzle or discharge 15 will be atomized by air under pressure supplied through they tube 12 and passed through the ports 17 to the discharge orifice of the color nozzle at which point the atomizing is effected. Obviously, by adjusting the cap longitudinally on the tubular body 13, the liquid color may be more or less finely atomized.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive,

w the valve case 7 is provided with intersecting air passages 18 and 19 at the junction of which a cone valve 21 is fittingly mounted in the case and provided with' intersecting ports 22 and 23 adapted to register with the passages 18 and 19 respectively, when the valve is turned in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4. The valve 21 is held seated by means of a nut threaded onto a reduced extension of the said valve and bear- 20 ing against a collar 20' fitted onto the valve and serving to effect a tight joint at this end thereof. Air under pressure may enter the passage 18 through the tube 24 secured to the valve case and connected to one end of 5 said passage. The opposite end ofthe pas-.

sage 18 is stopped by a plug 25 and this end of the passage is connected'by means of a short conduit 26 with the interior of the air tube 12. The passage 19 communicates with so the interior of the receptacle 9 so that the contents-of the receptacle will be subjected to the air pressure. The valve case is pro vided with a second pair of intersecting passages 27 and 28 connecting the color tube 14 '35 with the interior of the receptacle 9, the latter connection being effected by means of a tube 29 secured in the valve case and extending downwardly, into close proximity tothe base of the receptacle and provided 10 there-at with a suitable screened inlet 31. A cylindrical valve 32 mounted in the valve case at the juncture of the passages 27 and 28 is formed with a central cavity or reserfvoir 33, the purpose of.which will appear as hereinafter, and a pair of ports 34 and 35 adapted to register with the passages 27 and 28 respectively, when the valve is turned in .a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 4.

' As will be noted in Fig. 6, the cylindrical valve 32 is provided with reduced ends 36 and 37 and that the length of the cylindrical body of the valve is less than the width of the valve case. Gap plates 38 provided with apertures through which the said reduced ends 36 and 37 project are suitably detachf ably secured to the sides of the valvecase as by means of screws 39. The contiguous walls of the valve case and the cap plates 38 immediately adjacent to the cylindrical valve are shaped to provide annular recesses for the reception of suitable packing 41 so as to provide a packed joint at each end of the said cylindrical valve. As clearly shown in Fig. 6, this'packing, seated in the annular depressions in the sides of the valve case, extends beyond the periphery of the cylindrical valve, so that the packing covers the joints between the cylindrical valve and v 4 to one end thereof rocker arms designated in general by reference characters 42 and 43 that are adapted to be oscillated by a single control member for operating the valves in a novel manner as will be described. In the present instance, the said rocker arms are fitted onto square shanks on the valves and held by nuts against displacement. The rocker arms are oscillated by means of a member 44 mounted to slide in a plane transverse to the axes of said valves and provided with upstanding lugs 45 and 46 adapted to cooperate with the bifurcated ends of the rocker arms.' This member 44 is slidingly mounted on a U- shaped body portion '47 secured at its ends (Fig; 4) to the valve case 7, one end ofthe member 44 being guided in an aperture 48 through onearm of said body member. The opposite end 49 of said member 44 is turned down and fixedly secured to a rod 51 slidingly mounted on the arms of said member 47. An expansion spring 52 disposed about the rod 51 interposed between one arm of the member 47 andthe end 49 of the slide member normally urges the latter end into abutment against the adj acent arm of the member 47, and a finger lever 53 pivotally fulcrumed at 54. on the valve case and connected intermediate its ends to the rod 51, serves as a convenient and suitable means for moving the rod 51 axially against the tension of said spring 52, and consequently shifting the slide member 44 to'adjust the Valves. As shown in Fig. 3, the slide member 44 is shaped to provide a shoulder 55 adapted to abut against the aperturedarm of the member 47 to limit movement of the slide member in one direction, movement in the opposite direction being limited by the down turned end of said member as mentioned above.

In F ig. 1, which shows the rocker arms holding the valves in the position indicated in Fig. 4-, it will be noted'that the lug 45 is located intermediate and in engagement with the bifurcated ends 56 and 57 of the rocker arm 42, while the lug 46 is positioned considerably distant from the end 58 out of operative engagement with the end 59. By this construction, it will be manifest that when the finger lever 53 is depressed against the tension of the spring 52, the slide mem- 4 her 44, will be moved to the left, viewing. During the' first portion of thisv Fig. 1.

movement, the membe r44 will oscillate the. rocker arm 42 and adjust the valve" 21 so as to registerhits ports with the passages 18 and 19, thus supplying air under pressure to the reservoir .9 and atomizing nozzle. After air has been admitted to the'nozz'le,

* the: lug 46 will engage the end 58 of the rocker arm 43 and adjust the valve 32 to' open the liquid color passage to the atomiz- .ing nozzle. It will be here observed that during movement of the rocker arm 43 by the lug 46, the lug 45 passes'from engagement with the ends of the rocker arm 42 so that the valve 22 remains stationary in open positionwhile the valve 32 is being opened.v

valve-controlling means when the valvesare open andthe'air brush is in operation, and from'this view, it. Will be noted that the lug 46 is disposed intermediate and in engagement with the ends'58 and 59 of the rocker arm 43 and the lug 45 is out of oper'ative engagement with the ends of the rocker arm so that upon releasing the finger lever 53' the slide member 44 in its return movement will operate the rocker arm 43 and close the valve- 32 prior to operating the rocker arm 42 for-closingthevalve 21.

Coming now to the matter of the reservoir 33 in the valve 32, it will be noted that this reservoir establishes a connection betweenthe ports in the valve 32 and in ,efi'ect constitutes an enlarged cavity at the junc-.

L 'ture of the passages 27 and 28.1 It has been '45 found that when liquid color, such as is employed in air brushes is conducted through a-passage having a right angularbend the color tends to accumulate and packor cake at the bend so'that it is necessary' to frequently clean the passage. .In the present construction an acute bend in the passage in the valve 32 is avoided by providing at the juncture of the angular passages a reservoirwhic'h will retain a substantlal body of liquid color so that the. flow past the bend is free and unobstructed as there is always a .body of liquid at this point. It will, of

- -course,'be appreciated that after continued usage the'color may cake in the reservoir 32,

" but this would occur only after-a comparatively long period of usage. The reservoir 4 also has an advantageous efi'ect in the operation' when starting and stopping the brush at "frequent intervals, since the liquid color contained in the reservoir provides an initial supply that may be forced to the atomizing nozzle immediately after pressure is applied to the liquid color.

From the 'foregoing,.it will be apparent that I have provided means operated by a single member for controlling the supply/of air and liquid color to the atomizing nozzle, so that upon' putting the air brush into operation, air is supplied'to the nozzle prior to admitting'color thereto, and the supply.

iof air and coloris shut-ofi in inverse order upon releasing the single control member. It will be manifest that by admitting air to the atomizing nozzle. prior to the color, there will be no possibility of an unatomized speck or globule of color being ejected, since color upon entering the nozzle will be' preceded and immediately atomized by the air and upon shutting 011 the supply of color prior to the air whatever color pigment .is contained in the mixing. chamber or orifice of the nozzle will be'ejected so as to cleanthe atomizing chamber. It will also be evident that my improved cylindrical valve structure and packing therefor enables efficient operation and prevents leakage of color from the valve case. It shouldbe understood that Ido not limit myself to the details of construction shown since the same may be modified and, changed without departing from the'spirit and scope of my invention as .expres sedin the appended claims.

' I claim: 4 h

1. In an air brush,.the combination with a liquid container and an atomizing nozzle, of a valve case interposed between the same and having a conduit therethmugh connecting the nozzle and container, a cylindrical val've mounted in the valve case intersecting said conduit and having ports adapted by passage throu h saidconduit and packmg' at the ends o? the. valve extehding -beyon the periphery thereofso' as to'preclude leakage of liquid from the valve case.

2. In an air brush, the combination with a liquid container and an atomizing nozzle, of a conduit connecting said containerand nozzle, a valve in. said conduit forcontrolling passage ;of liquid. therethrough, said valve being provided .with a reservoir oscillation of the valve to open and close the 7 through which the liquid passes, and means for supplying air to the atomizing nozzle '3. In an air brush, the combination with an atomizingnozzle, of means for supplying i air and liquid color to the nozzle-through separate conduits, a rotary valve in cache a Y movable operating member constantly urged by a sprmg to non-operating position,

conduit, a rocker arm attached to each valve,-

and means operable between said member and said rocker arms to open the a r and liquid color valves respectively in succession upon movement of said operating member 7 against 'the' tension :of said spring and to close said valves in inverse order upon releasing the operating member.

4. In an air brush, the combination with an atomizing nozzle, of means for supplying air and liquid color to the nozzle through separate conduits, a rotary valve in each conduit, a rocker arm attached to each valve and provided with a bifurcated end, a member slidably mounted and provided with portions engageable between the bifurcated portions of said arms by back and forth movement of the member to operate the valves so that upon movement of said member in one direction the air and liquid valves Will be respectively opened in succession and upon movement of the member in the opposite direction the valve will be closed in inverse order.

5. In an air brush, the combination with an atomizing nozzle, of a pair of rotary valves one for controlling the supply of air and the other the supply of liquid color to the atomizing nozzle, a member mounted to travel in a back and forth movement, man-- ually operable means for moving said memher in one direction, a spring for moving.

said member in the opposite direction, means operable between said slidable member and said valves constructed to oscillate the same as said member is moved back and forth to open the air and liquid supply valves respectively in succession upon said member being manually operated and to close said valves in inverse order upon said member being, moved in the opposite direction under the influence of the spring.

6. In an air brush, the combination with an atomizing nozzle, of a pair of rotary valves one for controlling the supply of air and the other the supply of liquid color to the atomizing nozzle, each valve having a rocker arm provided with a recessed end, a member mounted to travel in a back and forth movement relatively to said rocker arms and equipped with a pair of arms each of which is adapted to operate one of said rocker arms by engagement in the recess thereof, the arrangement of said rocker arms and. operating arms being such the. latter will upon said member being moved in one direction, open first the air and then the liquid valve and upon movement of said member in the opposite direction will close said valves in inverse order.

LIBERTY WALKUP. 

